Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections

Background

Election date(s)
The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.

20.09.2013

Timing of election
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections

Upon normal expiry

Expected date of next elections
The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.

30.09.2023

Number of seats at stake
Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.

55

Scope of elections
Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.

Full renewal

Candidates

Total number of candidates
Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".

309

Number of male candidates
Number of male candidates

254

Number of female candidates
Number of female candidates

55

The number of women candidates is not available from authoritative sources.

No

Percentage of women candidates
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.

17.8%

Notes

Number of parties contesting the election: N/A. Political parties are banned from taking part in elections.

Voter turnout

Registration
Number of people registered to vote

415,012

Results

About the election
Short description of the context and results of the election.

At stake in the 2013 elections were 55 of the 65 members in the House of Assembly, the other 10 seats being appointed by the King.
Political parties are banned from taking part in elections. All candidates thus stood as independents. The People's United Democratic Movement of Swaziland (PUDEMO, a banned political party which operates from South Africa), called on citizens to boycott the 2013 elections. PUDEMO leader Mario Masuku argued no election can be free in the absence of political parties.
Mr. Jan Sithole - a pro-democracy activist and leader of the Swaziland Democratic Party (Swadepa) – was elected to the House, pledging to change the government from the inside. The outgoing Deputy Speaker, Ms. Esther Dlamini, became the sole woman to be elected to the House of Assembly in 2013. Following the elections, King Mswati III appointed two princes, a princess and three members of his Dlamini clan to the House of Assembly.
On 28 October, the King re-appointed his half-brother, Mr. Barnabas Dlamini, as Prime Minister. The latter - who pledged to tackle corruption and work for the King's vision to bring the kingdom to First World status by 2022 - will serve an unprecedented fourth term.

Alternation of power after elections
The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.

No

Note on the alternation of power

Monarchy

Members elected, by sex

Number of men elected

61

Number of women elected

4

Percentage of women elected
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.

7.27%

Note on the Distribution of seats according to sex

One woman was elected, while three others were appointed by the King.

Other notes

Following the proclamation by the King on the occasion of the country's 50th anniversary in April 2018, the country name has been modified from Swaziland to Eswatini with effective of 30 May 2018.